Jackson Free Press

We feel confident in saying that there a few headaches in the Jackson area today after hundreds of people packed into the Mississippi Museum of Art for the JFP's Sixth Annual Best of Jackson party. Local restaurants brought so much food that we had to scramble for extra tables. The beer and the wine from Kat's kept flowing. DJ Phingaprint worked the crowd into a frenzy as usual. Fedoras, pinstripes and flapper dresses were in abundance. The highlight of the night came around 7 p.m. when the JSU Sonic Boom drum line marched from outside straight into the packed museum and to the dance floor to perform. And perform they did. (Rumor has it that members of The Weeks tried to join the drum line later, and June Hardwick later reported that she heard them in her house blocks away.) Oh, yes, Josh Hailey outdid his gold lame jumpsuit from last year. Let's just say that, save for a sombrero and big black moustache and some itty-bitty speedos, he would have been buck naked. What's next year for Josh? We tremble to think.

***Also, if you did not get your award certificate last night (for 1st, 2nd or 3rd this year), or there is any kind of problem with yours (spelling, etc.), please contact Kimberly Griffin here at 601.362.6121 ext. 1 to get yours. You can also e-mail her at kimberly (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com.***

Previous Commentsshow

Oh, and for my annual post-party hint on how to be invited to the BOJ bash every year: Get your butt on the Lounge List (this site's e-mail list; see front page). I won't mention it again, so take note. ;-) The Best of Jackson party isn't the only Lounge List perk, either. You get events alerts several times a week, special discounts to plays andd events, and chances to win free tickets to Jackson events. So do it.

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

I enjoyed the event last night, Donna. You probably don't remember me saying hello to you last night since you were knee deep in awards. You did speak back, but I think it was more of a grunt, LOL.

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

Sorry, L.W. I grunted at everyone who tried to talk to me at the podium! Sorry. I do remember you, though! What a party.

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Yeah, it was fun. I must admit that when Josh came out, I hid my face behind Andi. Scared me a little. :-P

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

I totally enjoyed the bash!

sharon

Jan 28 2008

What was that called that Thai House was serving? Whatever it was, it was GOOOOOOOOD!

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

And SPICEY!

sharon

Jan 28 2008

I think it was chicken curry. Oh, and a reminder to everyone: PLEASE go visit all the restaurants that provided food and tell them how much you appreciated it. Here's a list (help me out if I leave any off): Collins Dream Kitchen Cool Al's Crazy Cat Del Sol Fenians High Noon Hilton - Wellington's Julep La Cazuela Little Tokyo Mugshots Pizza Shack Primos Que Sera Sal & Mookies Thai House Two Sisters

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Oh, I missed Pizza Shack! [slow motion]NOOOOOO![/slow motion]

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

Yeah, people scarfed up those pizzas in about 20 minutes. Which was good because then Thai House showed up, and we needed the space!

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Those frickin' jalapeno turkey burgers at Big Al's were so good they made your eyes roll up.

sharon

Jan 28 2008

I didn't get any of that, either. Besides Thai House, I got Huntington Grill's sweet potato chips with the crabmeat and some kind of cheese sauce, and I got a sample of some lemon buttermilk cake.

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

Hey - are there pictures & I'm just missing them?

sharon

Jan 28 2008

I loved the little round cheese straw cookie things from Primo's. And Crazy Cat Bakers' bread pudding was pure decadence. I didn't get around to much other of the food—too busy—but it looked amazing. There will be pictures. Everyone's a little slow on the draw today. ;-)

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Oh yeah, I took a few pictures, but I gotta see how well they turned out because of the lighting. I had to stop because my batteries got low, so I don't have as many as I would like.

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

Hands down- The Best Of Party is the most diverse crowd in Jackson. Every. Year. I had a blast! I didn't sample any of the food- too many people- but that's a good thing. That Phingaprint just about killed me!! Every time I tried to leave, he'd play another hit. Finally had to go because the fabulous shoes have a limited time span. Can't wait til the next event. So do we have dates for the CHICK BALL yet???

urbangypsy

Jan 28 2008

Thanks, Gypsy. (And you looked divine as usual.) Yes, the BOJ party vibe has been the same since the first year (which I believe you attended). I remember just being in awe that year. Since then, I've grown to expect the mix of people we get. Yes, fabulous shoes ALWAYS have a limited time span. While we were cleaning up, I was barefoot. Today all us JFP chicks are in comfy shoes. I think Kimberly's wearing house shoes. ;-) The Chick Ball committee is rumbling. We should be having a meeting in a week or so. Would you want to join us? Also, watch for a big Boom Jackson bash, probably in May when the first issue hits the streets. Yes, this might be the year the JFP-co (or the Mississippi Free Press as we call our "parent" company) might actually start holding two humongous parties—one JFP, one Boom-J. I'm not sure what that means, if anything, about Chick Ball timing. We usually do it right around Mother's Day, but that's not chiseled in stone. Any thoughts out there about Chick Ball timing?

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Oh, and to your diverse point: Kimberly was just talking about two African American woman restaurant managers booty-dancing with Josh "Half-Naked-Pedro" Hailey. "There's your racial reconciliation," she said.

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

"There's your racial reconciliation," she said. ROTFL! WOOOOOOO!

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008

WhatEVER the timing is for the Chick Ball just make sure & send me MY invite cause I don't want to miss it. I'll line up some arm candy.

sharon

Jan 28 2008

Don't worry: You'll know. We have big plans for the Chick Ball this year, and arm candy is where it's at. ;-) As for Josh, I just realized that I need to post a correction. He was MORE than half nekkid.

DonnaLadd

Jan 28 2008

Hello Donna, LW, Urbangypsy, and the rest of Jackson! I'm a bit late commenting, but, I must say that race definitely wasn't an ISSUE at this event. I don't think anyone even noticed what race the other was after the spirits started to flow and the hypnotizing music of Phinga filled the air! I had never been to THE BEST of JACKSON event before and I wasn't going to miss it this year! It was soooo much fun and the band was the BEST! (literally) I am very proud of my friends for winning in their categories...U all know who you are! Lots of luv to you! Two of them are Jackson Arts Collective members....as Josh would say, whoop! and Kamikaze...That's the truth...sho-nuff! Donna, I had a wonderfful tme standing next to you, chatting about how delicious and rythmic the Jackson State drumline was...oops was I suppose to say that!!! Oh well! If you weren't there you missed a Fantabulous event. I look forward to next year.

blaque butterfly

Jan 30 2008

As far as Chick Ball timing, not the weekend of May 16 &17, anything else is good. Year 2 we did it early June, I'm open to anywhere from late April to early June , just not the weekend I mentioned. Sorry I had to miss the BOJ bash, this year I was out of town for business but I'll plan on coming next year, hooooooray!

Izzy

Jan 30 2008

My photo album

LatashaWillis

Jan 30 2008